Mama Loves: my life!

It’s Tuesday and that means it’s time to review my blessings. Mama Loves is my (mostly) weekly exercise in positive thinking, a practice based on Philippians 4:8-9.

Life ebbs and flows. A couple weeks ago I was in a funk and couldn’t seem to get out of it. Now I can’t decide which thing to rave about. So, you’re getting a list.

1. Mama loves Zach’s passion. This summer he has been exceptionally hot and cold over seemingly everything. There is no middle ground. He either loves it or hates it and will loudly make known his preferences. He runs into the yard full force screaming: “PETER RABBIT, YOU BETTER STOP EATING MY MOMMY’S FLOWERS!!!” He chases my nemesis, the groundhog, the shovel and dances victoriously when the behemoth rodent retreats to his underground lair. My favorite episode of the summer, though, was Zach “singing” at the top of his lungs as we strolled through the mall. “In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus! I have strength to do good things in the name of Jesus!”

2. Mama loves Ellie’s love for God. Last week I read her a new-to-us children’s book that talked about Jesus coming again. I guess I had never mentioned this before. We talk a lot about Heaven and salvation and obedience and grace, but I must have omitted the second coming because she immediately jumped off the bed. “Jesus is coming? To earth? Are you sure, Mom? I’m SO EXCITED! I gotta go make Him a picture!” She spent the rest of the day drawing love notes for Jesus. Here’s one of them.

And here’s one of our family at the wedding a few weeks ago.

Notice she’s still a little upset about me cutting my hair last fall. At least now she’s drawing hair on me, but she makes sure I know that without a dress, I would look just like a boy.

3. Mama loves being spoiled with an amazing mother-in-law. I have many friends who struggle with their “outlaws,” so much that I hesitate to mention how blessed I am. Seriously, I’m completely spoiled. In fact, I think Rick’s mom favors me over all her biological children. I’m their favorite. She scrubs my kitchen floor and claims to enjoy it. She drives three hours roundtrip to take the kids for a third of that time and give me some solitary writing time. This past weekend we went shopping together. I needed underwear and felt a little awkward, until she reminded me she would see it all the next time she does my laundry anyway. Yup. I’m completely, utterly, undeniably spoiled. The only thing I lack is a good picture of the two of us together.

4. Mama loves this picture.

See that hottie on the far left with the smoldering eyes and chiseled face? That my Rick. I have no idea who the other guys are nor why the two in the middle are making goofy faces, but I do know my man is F-I-N-E. He kissed me before leaving for work this morning. His cologne lingered on my face for a good fifteen minutes afterward. My mother-in-law is amazing, but her son … wow. Yeah … wow.

5. Mama loves that after more than ten years of marriage, I still feel like Cinderella: the poor girl with a disfunctional family who marries a prince and lives happily ever after. God has been so good to me!! Yesterday, today and forever, I am blessed simply because He knows me and calls me His child.